My interest in politics and political science stems from my earliest years and has continued through my formal education beginning in high school and throughout my undergraduate and graduate education. The courses that are entailed in the curriculum for a political science instructor are equivalent to the upper and lower division courses that I completed during my undergraduate years. In addition, my graduate education has prepared me for the day to day functioning of city government through public administration.

In addition to my formal training I have gained valuable experience through working in numerous political campaigns; as a congressional intern for former U.S. Congressman Mel Levine; my years of service with various civic and community groups; and through my nineteen years working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Throughout my educational career I have been involved with some form of student council and/ or committee. During my years attending West Los Angeles College I was deeply involved with the Associated Student Organization as its chief justice, ASO Student Body President, and as West Los Angeles College's representative for the student trustee position for the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees. Additionally, I was one of the founding members of the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats (circa 1985, now defunct), head of the NAACP (LA Chapter) Youth and College Division, and I served on the board of directors of the Southern Christian Leadership Council of Greater Los Angeles.

My educational background is varied beginning with attending West Los Angeles Community College; earning a B.A. in Political Science from Loyola-Marymount University; Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge; certificate in Proactive Leadership from Cornell University; certificate in Leading Nonviolent Movements for Social Progress from Harvard Kennedy School (Executive Education); attending law school at Southwestern Law School and San Fernando Valley College of Law (University of La Verne); and attending Walden University for a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration.